Treatment FAQ

what is the best treatment for vitiligo

by Gregg Harris DVM Published 3 years ago Updated 2 years ago
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Phototherapy with narrow band ultraviolet B (UVB) has been shown to stop or slow the progression of active vitiligo. It might be more effective when used with corticosteroids or calcineurin inhibitors. You'll need therapy two to three times a week.Apr 10, 2020

Medication

Narrowband UVB is now the most common type of light treatment for the treatment of vitiligo. It uses light of a specific UVB wavelength, which has proved to be to be more effective than using standard UVB. There are a number of advantages over PUVA. Narrowband UVB treatment:

Procedures

Which are the Best Vitiligo Treatments for 2020. Vitilox Pigmentation Cream & Vitamins. Vitilox® Vitamin B12 and Folic Acid is requires to stop and slow down the further spread of Vitiligo. When ... Vitilox T-Cell-V is used in conjunction with Vitilox …

Therapy

Aug 01, 2017 · Sun is very effective for vitiligo, people have been using it to treat the disease for close to 3500 years, since the Iron Age. It's just not available to most people in most places, either too intense or not enough.

What does really work for vitiligo?

Psoralen medicine can be either used to apply on the skin or taken in the form of a pill. It is a treatment that is best for widespread vitiligo but may not be as effective on the hands and the feet. You visit the PUVA light treatment center twice a week for a year.

How to cure vitiligo permanently with a natural approach?

Jun 15, 2021 · Creams are a common treatment for vitiligo. Here are some of the most frequently used. Steroid creams Steroid creams Moderate to high strength topical steroids are usually the best option for people whose vitiligo doesn’t involve the face.

Is there a home remedy for vitiligo?

Oct 15, 2020 · Best Treatment for Vitiligo depends on the stage of your disease and spread. Homeopathic Specialist for Vitiligo at Welling Clinics, take a detailed evaluation of your diseases and offer comprehensive advice for What Is The Best Treatment for Vitiligo Clinic you.

What are the best creams for vitiligo?

Dr. Axe | Health and Fitness News, Recipes, Natural Remedies

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What is the fastest way to cure vitiligo?

There is no cure for vitiligo. The goal of medical treatment is to create a uniform skin tone by either restoring color (repigmentation) or eliminating the remaining color (depigmentation). Common treatments include camouflage therapy, repigmentation therapy, light therapy and surgery.Jan 13, 2020

What is the best medicine for vitiligo?

Topical pimecrolimus or tacrolimus Pimecrolimus and tacrolimus are a type of medicine called calcineurin inhibitors, which are usually used to treat eczema. Pimecrolimus and tacrolimus are unlicensed for treating vitiligo, but they can be used to help restore skin pigment in adults and children with vitiligo.

What is the latest treatment for vitiligo?

Topical and oral JAK inhibitors are the most promising new class of drugs currently available for treating vitiligo and acts best in conjunction with NB-UVB.

What kills vitiligo?

Light treatment Light boxes are used to treat widespread vitiligo; lasers are used to treat a small area. Works best on the face; least effective on hands and feet. Effective for many patients; about 70% see results with an excimer laser.

Which cream is best for vitiligo?

Here are some non-steroid prescription creams that work for vitiligo: Vitamin D3 analogs like calcipotriene . 005% cream (Dovonex) regulate skin cell production and proliferation. A topical steroid cream like fluticasone or mometasone combined with calcipotriene also works better than calcipotriene alone.Jun 15, 2021

Which oil is best for vitiligo?

One of the effective home remedies for vitiligo is the use of turmeric and mustard oil. Turmeric is known to have anti-inflammatory and antiseptic properties.

Is there any hope for vitiligo?

No treatments can cure vitiligo. For most people, the goal of treatment is to stop vitiligo from spreading and to bring color back to affected areas of skin. The existing treatments can help, but it is rare for them to make vitiligo go away permanently.Mar 30, 2021

Can vitiligo be cured?

Vitiligo has no cure. But treatment might stop or slow the discoloring process and return some color to your skin.Apr 10, 2020

What foods to avoid if you have vitiligo?

Here are some of the top problem foods that some people with vitiligo cite:alcohol.blueberries.citrus.coffee.curds.fish.fruit juice.gooseberries.More items...

Is garlic good for vitiligo?

Since garlic is known for its immunity-stimulating impact and it can also be beneficial to vitiligo patients. This is most especially in case your vitiligo is triggered by an autoimmune disorder or an infection.

Does turmeric help with vitiligo?

Turmeric is an effective home remedy for vitiligo. Turmeric along with mustard oil and stimulate the pigmentation of the skin. Apply a mixture of turmeric powder and mustard oil for 20 minutes to the affected area. Do this twice a day for positive results.Jun 24, 2018

How effective is vitiligo treatment?

Can treat widespread vitiligo. About 50% to 75% effective in restoring pigment to the face, trunk, upper arms, and upper legs. Not very effective for the hands or feet. Time-consuming, requiring treatment at a hospital or PUVA center twice a week for about 1 year.

What to do if you suspect vitiligo?

If your dermatologist suspects that you have vitiligo, your dermatologist will: Review your medical history, and may ask specific questions, such as whether anyone in your family has vitiligo. Perform a physical exam, looking carefully at the affected skin.

What is the treatment for PUVA light?

May be combined with another treatment such as a corticosteroid that you apply to your skin. PUVA light therapy. Uses UVA light and a medicine called psoralen to restore skin color. Psoralen may be applied to the skin or taken as a pill.

How effective are light boxes for vitiligo?

Light boxes are used to treat widespread vitiligo; lasers are used to treat a small area. Works best on the face; least effective on hands and feet. Effective for many patients; about 70% see results with an excimer laser. Results can disappear. About half, 44%, see results disappear within 1 year of stopping treatment.

Can a dermatologist treat vitiligo?

The type of treatment that is best for you will depend on your preference, overall health, age, and where the vitiligo appears on your body. Some people choose not to treat vitiligo.

Can vitiligo be effective?

Can be effective for 90% to 95% of patients. Possible side effects include failure to work, cobblestone-like skin, and infection. Unconventional treatment. Some vitamins, minerals, amino acids, and enzymes have been reported to restore skin color in people who have vitiligo.

Can you use makeup to cover vitiligo?

Some people choose not to treat vitiligo. No medical treatment (use cosmetics to camouflage lost color) Cosmetic options include makeup, self-tanners, and skin dyes. Offers safe way to make vitiligo less noticeable. Often recommended for children because it avoids possible side effects from medicine.

What is the best light for vitiligo?

Narrowband UVB light treatment. Narrowband UVB is now the most common type of light treatment for the treatment of vitiligo. It uses light of a specific UVB wavelength, which has proved to be to be more effective than using standard UVB. There are a number of advantages over PUVA. Narrowband UVB treatment:

What is the most common treatment for inflammatory skin conditions?

The most common treatment offered on the NHS is steroid creams and they are known as corticosteroids. These are creams which are used to treat inflammatory conditions of the skin, other than those arising from an infection. They include such brand names as Betnovate, Cutivate, Dermovate and Synalar.

What is PUVA treatment?

PUVA treatment is used in some hospitals. It involves taking medication as well as light treatment. The letters PUVA stand for Psoralen and Ultra Violet light A. Psoralens are chemicals found in plants, which make the skin more sensitive to light (either natural sunlight or UVA rays). Psoralen may be given as capsules to swallow, one or two hours before treatment. It may also be given as a lotion to paint on the white skin patches or to dissolve into bathwater (in which you have to soak for a short period before UVA treatment). You should not take psoralens if you are pregnant.

What is protopic ointment?

Protopic (also known as tacrolimus ) ointment is a treatment that has mainly been used for eczema. Recently, protopic has also been used in clinical studies for the treatment of vitiligo. It is made from a rare soil bacterium found only in Japan.

Does narrow band UVB treatment require medication?

Narrowband UVB treatment: Does not require additional medication, so you do not need to take special precautions before and after treatment. The normal skin does not develop the deep tan usual with PUVA treatment, so the contrast between normal skin and the treated vitiligo skin is less obvious.

Can you take more than recommended vitiligo pills?

You should not take more than the recommended dose though. If you have a healthy, balanced diet it should not be necessary to take supplements. More information on nutrition…. The Vitiligo Society continues to monitor vitiligo research and treatments and will advise on any proven product or treatment.

Is vitiligo on the face effective?

Treating vitiligo on the face seems to be particularly effective. Children are more likely to be more responsive to treatment. Using treatments when vitiligo first develops is more effective than later on. Small areas are easier to treat than larger ones.

What is vitiligo?

Vitiligo is a disease with unknown cause that causes patches of different color on the skin. An autoimmune process directed against the melanocytes (the cells that make the skin pigment or color) results in patches of skin with less pigment than usual.

What are the top choices for treating vitiligo?

Let’s look at the most recent evidence of successful therapies for repigmentation and cessation of spread, including some of the best treatments for vitiligo.

Creams for vitiligo

Creams are a common treatment for vitiligo. Here are some of the most frequently used.

Other treatments for vitiligo

Oral steroids (steroids taken as a pill) can be used as the next step if your vitiligo continues to get worse despite using the topical meds.

Vitiligo creams that camouflage

Some people decide to cover their vitiligo spots to blend in with uninvolved skin. This may be because they don’t want treatment or treatments didn’t work. Some popular vitiligo creams that can be used to match healthy skin include:

How is UV light used for repigmentation therapy in vitiligo (returning color to your skin)?

UVA (ultraviolet A) and UVB (ultraviolet B) light are both used for vitiligo.

What about lasers?

The excimer laser and lamp are used to treat smaller areas of vitiligo and have about the same effectiveness. They both use the same wavelength as NB-UVB, and some studies show that the laser works better than NB-UVB.

How often should I lighten vitiligo?

This vitiligo treatment is often done once or twice a day for nine months or longer , and the end result will be permanent.

What are the different types of vitiligo?

Researchers are still examining causes, risk factors and effective treatments. There are three recognized types of vitiligo: Generalized Vitiligo. White patches of skin progress symmetrically on both sides of the body, affecting the same body parts at the same time. Segmental Vitiligo.

How long does it take for vitiligo to work?

Some individuals may see results in weeks, while for other treatments it may take nine months, a year or longer .

What causes vitiligo in the body?

While researchers have not pinpointed a universal cause, autoimmune disorders seem to be the most prevalent vitiligo cause; however, a deficiency in certain vitamins and minerals, as well as exposure to some industrial chemicals, also can cause this disorder.

What are the symptoms of vitiligo?

The hallmark of vitiligo is white patchy areas of skin; however, other areas of the body may be affected too: ( 2) 1 Premature whitening or graying on the scalp 2 White or gray eyelashes or eyebrows 3 Whitening of a beard 4 Loss of color in the mucous membranes 5 Loss of color in the retinas

What causes root vitiligo?

Autoimmune diseases including Addison’s disease, thyroid disease, pernicious anemia and diabetes are believed to be root vitiligo causes. ( 3) However, some studies indicate people diagnosed with this condition are often deficient in certain vitamins like B12, folic acid, copper and zinc.

What is the color of the skin that is destroyed by vitiligo?

Vitiligo is a pigmentation disorder where melanocytes, the cells responsible for providing the color of our skin, hair, and eyes, are destroyed. The result is white patches of skin intermingling with normal skin tones. It may resemble the random pattern and patchiness of a severe sunburn when the skin peels.

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Diagnosis

Treatment

Alternative Medicine

Coping and Support

Your provider will work with you to develop a care plan that may include one or more of these treatment options.
Treatment might help restore skin color to the affected parts but cannot cure the further loss of pigment cells.
Medication

Corticosteroid: Help restore color or aid repigmentation.

Betamethasone valerate . Clobetasol Propionate


Ointments: Are effective for re-pigmentation of small skin areas.

Tacrolimus . Pimecrolimus

Procedures

Blister grafting: Small blisters are created in the normal pigmented area and these are placed on the affected area.

Tattooing: Implant pigment into the skin through a special surgical instrument.

Skin grafting: A small part of the normal pigmented skin is removed and grafted in the discolored areas.

Therapy

Ultraviolet phototherapy:Combination of corticosteroid and UV phototherapy for restoring color. Combination of psoralen with UV lights are also used.

Specialist to consult

Dermatologist
Specializes in the study of the skin and its disorders.
Primary care physician
Specializes in the acute and chronic illnesses and provides preventive care and health.

Preparing For Your Appointment

  • Your doctor will ask about your medical history and examine your skin, possibly with a special lamp. Your evaluation might also include a skin biopsy and blood tests.
See more on mayoclinic.org

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